LYNCHBURG, Va. (AP) - The Virginia Defense Force is looking to expand its role the next time a big storm hits the state.
About 30 members of the state's all-volunteer military organization met in Lynchburg on Saturday, approximately two months after a major windstorm ravaged Virginia, to prepare themselves for future disasters.
The News & Advance reports that since 1985, the force has provided communications assistance to the National Guard during emergencies. Now, it's looking to help in state-run shelters.
Col. Patrick Tweedy of the force said state emergency management officials needed more help in running shelters after the late June storm that cut off electric power to hundreds of thousands of Virginians.
